redbud

One of the earliest trees to bloom in the spring is the redbud. This favorite ornamental rarely reaches heights of greater than 20 feet. The redbud comes in three color varieties: white, red, and purple. They are self-pollinating and a fast grower, but that also means they have a shorter lifespan. The redbud is a member of the legumes- their seed pods and flowers are edible. They are forgiving of soil types, growing best in moist, well-drained sites.